Fatih Birol

Birol says the 35-by-35 electrification target would mainly cut oil demand via transport, and will face opposition from countries that want oil demand to stay high.

If this electrification target is met or agreed, the main implication will be reducing oil demand because the main implication will be on the transportation sector, and it will be a key. “There are countries who have some interest to not see the oil demand going down. Geopolitics has a long and dark shadow on energy.

Birol argues Australia is well placed to lead climate talks despite its fossil exports, saying the world would benefit from at least five Australias.

In fighting climate change, he says, “I would feel much better if there were not one, but at least five Australias in this world.”

Birol says renewables are expected to rise from one-third to nearly half of global electricity generation within five years.

Over the next five years, renewables are expected to grow from one-third to nearly half of global electricity generation

Birol says energy security, rather than environmental concern, is now the main driver of renewables expansion as countries cut exposure to imported fuels.

"Previously, environmental concerns were the policy priority behind the growth of renewables, whose falling costs have made them a competitive option in many markets - but today, it's mainly energy security that is driving renewables' expansion as more and more countries seek to reduce their exposure to imported fuels," said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.

Birol says renewables are spreading globally and will rise from a third of global electricity generation today to close to half within five years.

"The new chapter of the renewables growth story is a truly global one as their deployment spreads well beyond major markets into every corner of the world. This is making them a key pillar of the global power sector. Today, they account for a third of global electricity generation; in the next five years, they will be getting closer to half of it."

Birol says existing technologies and policy tools can make buildings far more efficient, cutting emissions and bills, and the priority is to deploy them now.

"More energy-efficient buildings can cut emissions worldwide while making a tangible difference to people's daily lives," said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. "By accelerating progress, we can lower energy bills and help more people access secure, affordable energy. This report shows that we already have the technologies and policy tools to deliver these benefits. The priority now is to put them to work."

Birol says India's renewables buildout strengthens its energy security and shows other emerging economies how consistent policy can cut costs and attract investment.

India’s renewables expansion is delivering major benefits for its energy security at a time of heightened uncertainty in global energy markets. As countries look to strengthen domestic energy supplies, India’s experience shows how consistent policies can help drive down renewable energy costs and attract investment, offering valuable lessons for other emerging economies.

Birol said India's renewable expansion delivers major energy security benefits amid global market uncertainty, and that stable, consistent policy lowers costs, attracts investment and offers lessons for other emerging economies.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said India's renewable energy expansion is delivering major energy security benefits at a time of heightened uncertainty in global energy markets. He noted that India's experience demonstrates how stable and consistent policy measures can help lower renewable energy costs, attract investments and provide lessons for other emerging economies.

Birol says solar is growing fastest globally, followed by wind, with higher fuel prices also boosting biofuel use.

Globally, solar energy is seeing the fastest growth, followed by wind. Rising prices for diesel and gasoline have also spurred an increase in the use of biofuels

Birol says EVs are expanding rapidly worldwide as countries seek to cut oil dependence, with the trend extending beyond Europe.

Over the past few months, EVs have seen rapid expansion in various markets worldwide, with the desire to reduce dependence on oil serving as a key driver. Several countries are accelerating the electrification of transport through measures such as subsidies and tax incentives. This trend is not limited to Europe; it is also evident in Brazil, Australia, and across Southeast Asia.

Birol says the world has faced the greatest energy security challenge in history since March.

the greatest energy security challenge in history

Birol praised China's crucial role as host and chair of the APEC Energy Ministers' Meeting.

China played a crucial role as the host and chair.

Fatih Birol said he sees no credible pathway for oil prices to normalize in 2027.

the International Energy Agency's executive director, Fatih Birol, said this week he sees "no credible pathway" for oil prices to normalize in 2027

Fatih Birol warned that oil and gas prices will stay high next year, with refined product prices even higher.

International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warned that oil and natural gas prices will remain high next year, while prices for petroleum products are even higher.

Birol said nuclear power is clearly making a comeback, with 90 GW under construction, the highest in four decades.

Three and a half years ago, I claimed nuclear is making a comeback. The historic number is now 90 gigawatts of nuclear power plants under construction. This is the highest in the last four decades,

Fatih Birol described the Strait of Hormuz disruption as the largest supply shock in the history of the global oil market.

the largest supply shock in the history of the global oil market

Birol said the surge in demand for solar, nuclear, coal and EVs is a direct response to sharply higher traditional fuel costs driven by Middle East tensions.

Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), outlined this reality during the Singapore International Energy Week, noting that the surge in demand for solar, nuclear, and coal generation, alongside electric vehicles (EVs), is a direct operational response to the sharp increase in traditional fuel costs.

Birol stressed that geopolitics is now the dominant driver of energy, making energy security paramount, and markets won't return to pre-conflict conditions at least until 2027.

Birol emphasized that geopolitics has become the dominant variable influencing the sector, elevating energy security to a paramount priority. Consequently, the agency forecasts that energy markets will not revert to their pre-conflict state-at least not until 2027-as new supply chains and demand structures solidify.

Birol urged governments and businesses to make energy security their top priority amid persistent oil supply disruptions.

Energy security must become the number one priority for governments and businesses

Birol said the world is entering an era of electricity, with demand growing rapidly even as oil and gas use continues.

Birol said that the world is entering an era of electricity: despite the continued use of oil, natural gas and liquefied natural gas, electricity demand is growing rapidly.

Birol warned that highly concentrated clean energy supply chains could become a problem, especially for Southeast Asia.

In Singapore, International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warned of the high concentration of global supply chains for energy transition technologies. Speaking at Singapore International Energy Week, Birol did not name the countries involved in these supply chains. According to him, such concentration could become a problem, particularly for Southeast Asia.

Fatih Birol said energy markets are unlikely to return to pre-war conditions in 2027, pointing to lasting supply chain impact from the Iran conflict.

The International Energy Agency's executive director, Fatih Birol, said on Monday that energy markets were unlikely to return to their pre-war conditions in 2027, underscoring concerns about the lasting impact of the conflict on supply chains.

Birol warned that Europe is entering winter with historically low gas reserves and cannot withstand further supply disruptions.

Fatih Birol, director of the International Energy Agency, warned that Europe is entering winter with historically low gas reserves and will not be able to withstand further disruptions.

Birol warned that energy markets are unlikely to return to pre-Iran-war conditions in 2027.

“I am afraid I don’t see any credible pathway that the markets will go next year, where we were before this war has started,”

Birol urged governments and businesses to make energy security the top priority while still planning the future direction of their energy systems.

“So therefore, we all need to get prepared, taking the energy security as a number one priority in our government, business world, but without forgetting what is the next chapter for the countries and for companies that are all here today,”

Birol projected a revival in nuclear investment, citing 90 GW of nuclear capacity under construction, a four-decade high.

Birol also projected a resurgence in nuclear energy investment, revealing that an IEA survey identified 90 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity currently under construction globally, the highest level recorded in four decades.

Birol says the current energy crisis has boosted countries' appetite for nuclear power as a safe, domestically reliable baseload source that reduces external dependence.

“The appetite for nuclear power has now increased as a result of the current crisis, because nuclear is a safe energy source. “Therefore, reliance on other countries is less, and it is baseload electricity, which is very much needed,” he told reporters on the sidelines of Singapore International Energy Week 2026 (SIEW 2026) here.

Birol warns that high diesel prices threaten the global economy and agriculture as planting season begins, with food prices potentially affected.

“What worries me is that diesel is very important for the global economy, and it is also very important for the agriculture sector, as many countries are entering the planting season,” he said.

Birol says the crisis should be judged by refined product availability and costs, not just crude prices, with diesel, LPG, gasoil and jet fuel under strain.

“We should not only be focused on crude oil prices. We use refineries, and today we are seeing significant challenges in refined products, starting with diesel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), gasoil and jet fuel,” he said.

Birol advises countries developing nuclear power to choose partners carefully, secure the best technology, and keep costs competitive.

“The country you are going to choose as your nuclear partner, you will live with this country almost 100 years because once you get ‘married’, you cannot ‘divorce’. “Secondly, the country needs to make sure that it gets the best technology to build the nuclear industry. And thirdly, cost should be competitive,” he said.

Birol said he does not expect energy markets in 2027 to return to pre-Iran-war levels, reinforcing supply concerns.

The head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, reinforced ⁠the concerns about the supply situation, saying on Monday at an industry event in Singapore that he does not expect energy markets in 2027 to return to where they were before the Iran war.

Birol warned that a harsh winter could push European gas prices even higher, with gas reserves well below normal and difficult conditions ahead for two years.

If we experience a harsh winter, natural gas prices in Europe could rise even higher. It won't be easy for Europe this year and next year,

Birol said the Middle East conflict will affect energy markets for months regardless of its outcome, and is profoundly changing how energy is transported globally.

Regardless of how the conflict in the Middle East unfolds, the impact on energy markets will last for months,

Birol said global energy markets will not return to pre-Iran war conditions by 2027 because of the supply shortage caused by the conflict, and urged governments and businesses to prioritize energy security.

Birol said he does not see a reliable path for markets to return to previous conditions next year.

Birol warned of winter fuel demand pressure, especially heating diesel in the West, and of a harsh European winter with tighter gas markets due to reduced Russian, Qatari and UAE supply.

Birol expressed concern about winter demand for certain fuels, especially diesel used for heating in the West, explaining that refinery maintenance in some regions is adding to worries as winter approaches.

Birol predicted a strong comeback for nuclear power, citing 90 GW under construction, the highest in forty years.

Birol predicted a "strong comeback" for the nuclear sector as a result of the current crisis, noting that the latest IEA survey shows 90 gigawatts of nuclear power plants under construction, the highest figure in forty years.

Birol said he sees no credible path for energy markets to return to pre-war conditions in 2027 and urged governments and businesses to make energy security their top priority.

“I am afraid I don’t see any credible pathway that the markets will go next year where we were before this war has started,” IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol told the Singapore International Energy Week conference. “So therefore, we all need to get prepared, taking the energy security as a number one priority in our government, business world, but without forgetting what is the next chapter for the countries and for companies that are all here today,” he said.

Birol warned that energy markets will not return to pre-war levels in 2027 and urged governments and businesses to prioritize energy security.

I fear there is no realistic path for markets to return next year to pre-war levels. Therefore, we must all prepare, making energy security a top priority for governments and businesses, while not losing sight of the next phase for the countries and companies represented here today.

Birol said current oil prices may be manageable for Europe, but around $120 per barrel significantly worsens trade deficits in many regions.

I can say that the current oil price may not be excessively high and could be manageable for some countries, such as those in Europe. However, prices reaching around $120 per barrel have a significant impact on the trade deficit in many regions of the world.

Birol expressed concern about refined product supply as winter diesel demand rises while several refineries undergo maintenance.

I am also concerned about refined oil products, as we are entering the winter season, when diesel demand typically rises in some parts of the world, coinciding with several refineries undergoing maintenance.

Birol said Europe faces a difficult winter as reduced Russian gas and constrained Qatar and UAE exports pressure gas markets.

Europe faces a difficult winter after European countries decided to cut Russian gas imports. The additional problem from the current war with Iran is that Qatar and the UAE are unable to export gas at previous levels, putting significant pressure on gas markets.

Birol expects the current crisis to drive a strong comeback for nuclear energy.

I expect the nuclear energy sector to see a 'strong comeback' as a result of the current crisis.

Birol calls raising electricity's share of global final energy use from 23% to 35% by 2035 a very important goal.

Electricity currently accounts for 23% of total energy consumption worldwide. Raising this to 35% by 2035, in other words, increasing it from 23% to 35%, is a very important goal

Birol says broad country sign-up in Antalya would be a major achievement and a strong signal to markets and investors.

If many countries, dozens or even hundreds, sign up to this in Antalya, I believe it would be an enormous achievement and send a strong signal to global markets and investors

Birol notes EV share of global car sales jumped from 5% to 32% in five years, boosting electricity demand.

Five years ago, only 5% of cars sold worldwide were electric. This year, the figure is 32%. This is also providing an additional boost to electricity demand

Birol warns the biggest energy challenge is grid delivery rather than generation, as there is a worldwide grid problem.

I believe the biggest challenge is not building power plants. We are doing that around the world, but the challenge is delivering this electricity to homes and factories through power grids. There is currently a grid problem worldwide.

Birol says the IEA will report annually on each country's progress toward the electrification target.

We will be given the task of reporting every year on what each country has achieved and what it has failed to achieve. We will carry out this task and inform the global public about how much progress each country has made or failed to make, as well as which countries need support

Birol warned that the world lacks buffer zones to hold energy prices steady and that Europe is entering winter with gas stocks well below historical averages.

International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol warned this week that the world is running short of "buffer zones" to hold energy prices where they are, and that Europe is entering winter with gas stocks well below historical averages.

Birol warned that higher diesel prices and fertiliser supply disruptions could push up food prices in the coming months as planting seasons begin.

International Energy Agency executive director Fatih Birol warned in Singapore last week that higher diesel prices and disruptions to fertiliser supplies could push food prices up in the coming months, particularly as farmers in many countries enter the planting season.

Birol expects the energy crisis to persist in some form into 2027 and sees no convincing case for normalization.

“I am not optimistic about normalization in 2027,” he said. “Even when I try to look at things optimistically, I cannot find an argument that convinces me.” “This crisis will continue in one form or another in 2027. The world will still be trying to heal its wounds, provided no new wounds emerge,” he added.